Dentaltown March 2015 - (Page 28)

radiology feature by Jordan Reiss Since its initial FDA approval in 2001, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has evolved at an impressive rate in the dental ﬁeld. In 2012, CBCT units were installed in approximately six percent of dental practices and clinics. An iData Research1 report on the U.S. market for dental imaging devices estimates that this number is expected to increase to 13 percent by the end of 2015. No one really understood where 3D imaging would go when it ﬁrst came out. Compared to today's technology, the ﬁrst few systems (there were only four CBCT systems approved for sale in 2003) had lower resolution, less functionality, higher doses and fewer options in terms of ﬁeld of view, 2D compatibility and interoperability with third-party programs. There are now more than 50 CBCT systems to choose from, many of which have made large strides in these areas. Initially, market demand was for the largest ﬁeld of view possible and manufacturers raced to meet this need. During the ﬁrst ﬁve years, most systems were priced from $200,000 to $300,000 and lacked 2D functionality, making them inaccessible and ill-suited to the general market. Starting in 2008, in what came as a surprise to many in the industry, endodontists showed a strong interest in using CBCT. This fueled a greater demand for systems that could produce the high-resolution images needed to capture endodontic details. There were now two very disparate systems on the market- dedicated, large ﬁeld-of-view CBCT units and high-resolution multifunction systems-and the demand began to shift to single systems that could incorporate both functions. It was this demand 28 MARCH 2015 // dentaltown.com for ﬂexibility that drove the market to our current state, in which multi-modality systems with 3D and 2D, including panoramic and cephalometric options, are desired. Over time more specialties-and general practitioners- have started to incorporate CBCT into their practice. When orthodontists showed interest in taking advantage of CBCT, there was a high demand for low-dose systems. Because children are 30 percent more susceptible to dose,2 dosimetry became of utmost importance when developing new CBCT solutions. In looking at how CBCT technology has expanded in such a short amount of time, we can make some educated predictions about what the dental ﬁeld can expect within the next ﬁve to 10 years. The demands from the dental market combined with advances in technology will greatly shape that evolution. Prices Will Decrease While Breadth of Features Increase When any type of technology comes out, adaptation goes through three stages: innovators and early adopters, early majority and late majority. In the beginning, cost is always a concern. As the industry improves, the volume increases and market acceptance goes up-driving costs down. This means that manufacturers are able to offer more features at an ever-decreasing price, which means customers get more for less. http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown March 2015

On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: 20 Feet from Stardom: Delegate like Jagger
Professional Courtesy: Married to My Profession
Continuing Education Update
Help Me Treatment Plan This Case
CBCT Technology: What Will the Future Bring?
New Luting Composite: Variolink Esthetic
Cone Beam 3D—Is It Really for Me?
Four Digital Marketing Mistakes that Impede Practice Growth
New Products
Poll
From Scaling to Therapy: A Day in the Life of a Dental Hygienist
The Value of a Dental Practice: Why Tracking “Attributable” Expenses Matters
I am Seeing a Lot of HPV Lesions in the Mouth Lately; What is the Protocol, Remove Them or What?
Dental Podcasts: What They Are and How They Work
Service Profi le: Garfi eld Refi ning
CE: Posterior Maxilla Implant Rehabilitation: A Challenging Task
Product Profile: Dentsply Caulking
Women in Dentistry: Intro
Women in Dentistry: Work/Life Balance: Flexibility and Creative Scheduling Go a Long Way
Women in Dentistry: The Lucy Hobbs Project
Women in Dentistry: Female Dentists in Conservative Muslim Nations Face Challenges and Threats
Women in Dentistry: The American Association of Women Dentists: Representing Women from Products to Leadership
Ad Index
Women in Dentistry: Q&A
Women in Dentistry: The Sky's the Limit: Hygienist Turned Entrepreneur Shows What's Possible
Product Profi le: SmartBox
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown March 2015